Softball

Softball Drops Opening Games to Hilbert, Albright

MYRTLE BEACH, SC-Hilbert scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to spoil the 2010 opener for the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's softball team. The Corsairs fell to the Hawks, 4-3, then lost the second game of their season opening doubleheader to Albright, 10-2 in five innings, at the Huckabee Sports Complex Sunday.

Sophomore pitcher Brittany Eldridge (Raynham, MA/Bridgewater-Raynham HS) singled home junior center fielder Michelle Conway (Burrillville, RI/Burrillville HS) in the top of the first inning to give UMD a 1-0 lead in the opener. Senior third baseman Emily Surprenant (Attleboro, MA/Attleboro HS) scored on a passed ball to tie the score at 2-2 in the top of the sixth, and freshman shortstop Breanna Marcyoniak (Westfield, MA/Westfield HS) singled home the tying run for the Corsairs in the top of the seventh. Hilbert scored an unearned run in the bottom of the seventh for the victory.

In the nightcap, the Lions took advantage of five walks to score three runs in the first inning. Conway had two hits, including an RBI single, and Marcyoniak had a run-scoring double for the Corsairs. Senior Alyssa Hosford (Attleboro, MA/Attleboro HS) pitched the final four innings in relief of starter Samantha Howarth (Fr. Seekonk, MA/Seekonk HS).

"I think we were able to get the nervousness out of our system," said UMass Dartmouth Assistant Coach Donna Poyant. "Brittney and Alyssa pitched well for us, and Michelle and Breanna hit the ball well. We'll come back and hope to do better tomorrow."

UMass Dartmouth dropped to 0-2 with the losses, while Albright is now 1-4 and Hilbert is 1-0. The Corsairs will play Becker and Bay Path tomorrow.
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